Reading host Sheffield United at Select Car Leasing Stadium in a rearranged Sky Bet Championship clash.
Victory would see Reading climb to 13th if Bristol City lose elsewhere, whilst Sheffield Utd can extend their lead over third-placed Middlesbrough to seven points with a win.
Team News
Tom Ince is set to return for Reading after he was substituted in their 5-0 loss at Middlesbrough last weekend for tactical reasons, having suffered fatigue due to a heavy fixture schedule.
Shane Long (ankle) and Liam Moore (fitness) are doubts but Baba Rahman (ankle), Junior Hoilett (hamstring), Mamadou Loum (groin), Sam Hutchinson (Achilles), Ovie Ejaria (knee) and Dejan Tetek (unspecified) remain absent.
Sheffield Utd have no fresh injury concerns to report after suffering a 1-0 defeat at Blackburn last weekend, although George Baldock, Tommy Doyle and Billy Sharp could return to the starting line-up after being benched at Ewood Park.
Jack O’Connell (fitness), Anel Ahmedhodzic (suspension), Enda Stevens (muscle), Rhys Norrington-Davies and Rhian Brewster (both hamstring) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Reading host Sheffield Utd at Select Car Leasing Stadium in an untelevised kick-off on Tuesday 7 March at 8pm GMT.
Stat Attack
- Reading have won just one of their last seven league meetings against Sheffield Utd (W1, L6).
- Sheffield Utd have won each of their last six league visits to Reading (W6).
- Reading have scored one goal and conceded six goals in their last three home matches against Sheffield Utd in the Championship.
- Paul Ince’s Royals have avoided defeat in their last seven matches at home in all competitions (W5, D2), during which they only kept two clean sheets.
- Defeat would see Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades suffer three consecutive away without a win for the first time since a six-match run between February-April 2022 (D3, L3).
Prediction
With a potential six-point deduction lingering over their heads, Reading need to refocus if want to bounce back their defensive shambles at Boro, whilst also rediscovering their attacking spark which felt absent in a second-best performance.
Sheffield Utd meanwhile just lacked their end product at Blackburn because they were unable to break down a stubborn defence, whilst their own defence was simply undone on an early counter-attack but I do expect them to come out with their usual aggressive attacking play.
Ince’s Royals though will be relieved to be back at home where they have fared well in recent games so I do expect them to make things as tricky as possible, yet Sheffield Utd should have too much if they can score first and kick on.
Prediction: Reading 1-2 Sheffield United
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